(TJV) An all-female combat unit consisting of 13 soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces successfully repelled a Hamas attack on an army base and helped liberate a kibbutz, Daily Mail reported.

Led by Lieutenant Colonel Or Ben Yehuda, the Caracal Battalion, in armored personnel carriers, rushed to the military post on the Egyptian border, which was under attack by Hamas.

Despite the challenging situation with rockets raining down, they learned that Hamas had breached the Israeli border fence with the Gaza Strip and was heading towards Jewish settlements. They received a warning message from a colleague at the Sufa military base, which was subsequently attacked by dozens of Hamas fighters. The colleague reported the presence of heavily armed terrorists.

Before the battle, Lt-Col Ben Yehuda rallied her unit, emphasizing their strength and determination to eliminate the terrorists infiltrating Israel. When they reached the military base, they discovered that Hamas had taken over the post, taking over 50 Israeli military personnel hostage, with some gunmen stationed in the dining room armed with anti-tank missiles.

Facing a band of 50 heavily armed terrorists charging towards them, the unit held their ground, engaging in a firefight that led to some casualties on their side.

The Caracal Battalion unit continued to fight and was eventually reinforced by soldiers from a Navy Special Forces unit. Together, they battled Hamas for the next 14 hours, resulting in the death or dispersal of the terrorists.

Lt-Col Ben Yehuda commended the significant contributions of the female soldiers and an all-female tank crew under her command. They played a crucial role in winning the battle, saving lives, and carrying out daring helicopter evacuations under fire.

The Caracal Battalion units, which are mostly female, are reported to have killed about 100 terrorists during this operation, dispelling doubts about the capabilities of female soldiers in combat.

The IDF has approximately 50,000 female combat troops out of a total of 200,000 active soldiers. These women are required to serve in the military alongside men and can be called back to serve in the Army Reserve during times of crisis. The Caracal Battalion, where Lt-Col Ben Yehuda serves, consists of 70% female soldiers and has all-women units. It is based in southern Israel.

Lt-Col Ben Yehuda herself was injured in a terrorist attack on the border with Egypt in 2014 but managed to return fire, killing one militant in the battle.